Model of the human eye.



J. J. MYERS.

MODEL OF THE HUMAN EYE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1909.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

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Inventor COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsHlNu'roN, mv c.

J. J. MYERS.

MODEL OF THE HUMAN EYE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1909.

Patented 0t.29,1912.

to 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

arivr orrio JESSE J. MYERS, OF EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN.

MODEL OF THE HUMAN EYE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 29,1912.

Application filed December 27, 1909. Serial No. 535,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn J. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented a new Form of Model of the Human Eye, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in a mechanical illustrator of the human eye and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character with which there can be clearly demonstrated the mechanical processes of accommodation as found in the normal human eye.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character of such construction as will permit the illustration of the abnormal conditions that produce myopia and hyperopia as they affect accommodation.

In the drawings, wherein a conveneint embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and wherein like characters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line a; :Z/ of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the plates which are used to connect the anterior and posterior portions of the eye; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, parts being shown in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a base or support which carries the various parts of the de vice.

Rigidly secured in any suitable manner upon the exterior of the base or support A is a substantially semicircular member R, which represents the anterior portion of the sclerotic coat of the eye. Positioned within the member R representing the anterior portion of the sclerotic coat and in close proximity to the inner surface thereof are two curved members M M, the adjacent ends of which are spaced apart and terminate adjacent the central portion of the member R. The outer ends of the members M M terminate adjacent the ends of the member B heretofore referred to.

The members M M illustrate the anterior portion of the choroid coat of the eye and said members are supported so that they can be adjusted longitudinally to vary the space between the inner adjacent ends there of. To this end the rear ends of the members M M are provided with pine Q Q projecting upwardly therefrom, which work in elongated slots formed in curved plates F F which are pivotally secured to the ends of the member B- so as to form continuations thereof, said plates being of a width to overlie the upper surfaces of the ends of the member R and the ends of the members M M. The members M M are also slidably supported intermediate the ends thereof in guides 5, which are secured in any suitable manner to the base A of the device. This construction permits the members M M to be adjusted longitudinally and holds the same against lateral movement.

The members M M are held in their normal position by springs K K which illustrate the ciliary muscles, the ends of which are connected respectively to the members M M and the member R. Means are conveniently provided for simultaneously adjusting the members M M longitudinally and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the means provided for this purpose comprises wires or cables N N which are connected to suitable hooks L L secured in the outer ends of the members M M and pass through suitable openings formed in the base A to the rear side thereof and extend rearwardly along the rear side of the base and have their ends secured thereto in any suitable manner. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the ends of the cables N N are clamped to the base by means of a block U which is screwed or otherwise secured to the underside of said base. The portions of the cables N N which extend along the rear side of the base are brought in close proximity to each other adjacent the point where they are secured to the base so that both of said cables may be readily grasped by the operator at the same time. The cables are normally held taut by the springs K K heretofore referred to, and when it is desired to adjust the members M M to increase the distance between the inner ends thereof, the operator grasps the cables adjacent their connection to the rear side of the support A and brings the same closer together, thus exerting a pull upon the outer ends of the members M M and shifting said members longitudinally. As soon as the cables N N are released, the springs K K will restore the members M M to their normal positions. To facilitate movement of the cables N N, guide loops G and O for said ables are conveniently provided on the front and rear of the support A. adjacent the openings in said support through which the cables pass.

Z designates an oval hoop which is formed of any suitable flexible or elastic material, which represents the capsule of the crystalline lens of the eye and positioned directly in rear of the opening between the adj acentcnds of the members M M. The hoop Z is suspended between the members ll M, links at being utilized for this purpose, which links are connected to the opposite portions of the flexible hoop Z and to hooks which project from the inner surface of the 1ne1nhers M M. The links 4: represent the suspensory ligaments. From this construction it will be apparentthat the curvature of the hoop Z which represents the capsule of the crystalline lens, will be varied with the adjustment of the members M M which represent the anterior portion of the choroid coat of the eye.

S designates a substantially semi-circular member which represents the posterior portion of the eye-ball, said member having indicated thereon in different colors, markings illustrative of the three coats of the eye. The inner ends of the member S underlie the plates F F heretofore referred to and the upper portions of said plates are also provided with colored markings, which are in alinement with the markings on the member S, illustrating the three coats of the eye. Means is provided for adjusting the member S toward and from the fixed member It representing the anterior portion of the sclerotic coat in order to change thelength of the eye-ball horizontally and to this end the base A is provided with a horizontally disposed slot therein in which is adapted to move a pin 1 depending from the member S.

The plates F F which are pivotally' secured at their front ends to the ends member R are provided at the rear ends thereof with depending flanges W which are adapted to lie alongside of the inner surface of the member S and are normally held in engagement with the member S by means of suitable springs H. H which are supported upon suitable pins C C mounted in the base A and bear against the exterior of said flanges. From this construction it will be seen that when the member S is adjusted outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings, the plates F F will move on their pivots, so that the markings on said plates will he at all times kept in alinement with. the markings on the member S.

Rigidly secured to the front portion of the elastic hoop Z which represents the crystalline lens are two wires or rods 2, 2

of the which extend rearwardly from said hoop. The wires 2, 2 are crossed and such wires are so arranged as to have a point of intersection J adjacent the inner surface of the member S. From this construction it will be seen that the point of intersection J of the wires 2, 2 will be changed as the hoop Z is distended, the point of intersection receding from the hoop as it is elongated. and approaching the same as it assumes a rounded form. Thus there is illustrated in a mechanical way the changing of the position of the focal point of the two rays of light as the angle of their convergence changes.

Vv hile a convenlent embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, itwill be understood that many changes may be made to the construction therein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a pair of oppositely disposed members movably mounted on said support and representing the anterior portion of the choroid coat of the eye, a flexible hoop positioned between said members, and means for simultaneously adjusting said pair of members longitudinally and flexing said hoop.

9.. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye,

a support, a pair of oppositely disposed curved members movably mounted on said support with the adjacent ends thereof spaced apart, a flexible hoop positioned between said members and in rear of the opening between the adjacent ends thereof, and connections between the opposite portions of said flexible hoop and said members.

3. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a pair of oppositely disposed curved members movably mounted on said support with the adjacent ends thereof spaced apart, a flexible hoop positioned between said members and in rear of the opening between the adjacent ends thereof, connections between the opposite portions of said flexible hoop and said members, and means for longitudinally adjust-ing said members to vary the space between the ends thereof.

4. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a pair of oppositely disposed curved members slidably mounted on said support with the adj ecent ends thereof separated, a flexible hoop positioned between the oppositely disposed curved members and in rear of the opening between the ends thereof, a link connection between each of said curved members and one end of said hoop, yieldable means normally holding said oppositely disposed curved members against movement, and means for simultaneously adjusting said oppositely disposed curved members longitudinally.

In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a substantially semi-circular member rigidly secured to said supportand representing the anterior portion of the choroid coat of the eye, a pair of oppositely disposed curved members slidably secured to said support for endwise movement, and positioned within said semi-circular member, the adjacent ends of said oppositely disposed curved members being separated, a flexible hoop positioned between said oppositely curved members and in rear of the opening between the ends thereof, means for adjusting said oppositely curved members longitudinally, and means for simultaneously changing the contour of said flexible hoop.

6. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a flexible hoop, a pair of crossed wires extending rearwardly from the tlexible hoop and operatively connected thereto whereby the flexing of the hoop will shift the point of intersection of said wires, and means for flexing said hoop.

7. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a pair of oppositely disposed members movably mounted on said support, a flexible hoop positioned between said members, connections between the end portions of said hoop and said movable members, a pair of crossed wires having their forward ends secured rigidly to the front portion of said flexible hoop.

S. In mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a pair of oppositely disposed members movably mounted on said support, a liexiblehoop positioned between said members, connections between the end portions of said hoop and said movable members, a pair of crossed wires having their forward ends secured to the front portion of said flexible hoop and means for simultaneously adjusting said oppositely disposed members.

9. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, and members mounted on said support representing the anterior and posterior portions of the eye-ball, one of said members being adjustable relatively to the other to illustrate variations in the diameter of the eye-ball.

10. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a curved member thereon illustrating in outline a portion of the front of the eye-ball, a curved member thereon illustrating a portion of the rear of the eye-ball, one of said members being movable relatively to the other, and means interposed between the ends of said members for maintaining the continuity of the outline of the eye-ball when one of said members is adjusted relatively to the other.

11. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a curved member thereon illus trating in outline a portion of the front of the eye-ball, a curved member thereon illustrating in outline a portion of the rear of the eye-ball, one of said curved members being movable relatively to the other, and members pivotally connected to the ends of one of said curved members and slidably engaging the ends of the other of said curved members.

12. In a mechanical illustrator of the eye, a support, a curved member thereon illustrating in outline a port-ion of the front of the eye-ball, a curved member'thereon illus trating in outline a portion of the rear of the eye-ball, one of said members being movable relatively to the other, a pair of plates overlying the adjacent ends of said curved members, means for pivotally connecting said plates with the ends of one of said curved members, the free ends of said plates being provided with clown-turned flanges adapted to overlie the other of said curved members, and yieldable means for holding said flan es in contact with said curved member.

JESSE J. MYERS. WVitnesses:

J soon Sonnrnns, L. P. JnNrsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

